Box magazine latch mechanism for repeating firearms



H. H. SEFRIED, 2D

BOX-MAGAZINE LKTCH-MECHANISMS FOR REPEATING FIREARMS Oct. 2, 1945.

Filed Sept. 29, 1944 s SheetS -Shee t 1 /A/V/VTO HARRY Hsmmaz Oct. 9, 1945. H. H. SEFRIED, 2D 2,386,722

BOX-MAGAZINE LATCH-MECHANISMS FOR REPEATING FIREARMS Filed Sept. 29, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arr-o zwsrs Oct. 9, 1945. H. H. SEFRIED, 2D

BOX-MAGAZINE LATCH-MECHANISMS FOR REPEATING FIREARMS Filed sept. 29, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Oct. 9, 1945 2 UNITED or 2,386,722, BOX MAGAZINE LATCH'MTECHANISM- Fort v REPEATING FIREARMS Harry Sefried, II, New Haven, 6301111., assignor to Olin Industries, Inc., a corporation of Dela ware notification September 29, 1944-, Serial No.- 556,315-

11 Claims.

. ture such manne as to be free of such degree of earning 01" jammin wonlo interfere with the retrieval of the hox magazihe or with the proper feeding of cartridges. 7

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple, reliable and effective box ma'ga- Zliie latch-mechanism for repeating firearms, so oonstriieted and arranger as to support or retain the box-magazine at a piiiraiity of oints iii a fiiazm-strticthr and to be releasable by the manipulation of but a single member.

A further object of the present invention is to nrovide a superior multi 'ie latch-mechanism for box-magazines having a nianually oherabie releasing member so constructed and? arranged as,

to he operable as anineji'dent to the manual graspiing or the box-magazine preparatory to its removal from the'firarni.

With the above and other objects in View. as

will appear to those skilled in the art from the:

resent disclosure, this invention includes all eatures in the said disclosure which ar novel over the prior artand which are not claimed in any separate application.

In the accompanying drawings, in which. cer'- tain modes of carryin out the present invention are for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1a is a broken view partly in side elevation and-partly in vertical central-longitudinal section of the forward portion of a repeating fireenio oying the present invention, with the stock and associated elements omitted;

Fig. lb is a broken view in side elevation or the rear portioti or the firearm with the stock and associated elements omitted Fig. 2 is underside view of the structure shown in Fig. 1?) but with the box-magazine omitted;

Fig. 3' is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3'"3 of Fig. 145';-

Fig. 4- is a deta hed ners'pective view of the multiple latcli fiiechafi'isin aiid viewin the same as from theright side of the firearm;

Fig. 5' is a nersoeetive view of the head-'mihher or the front etch-lever; v

Fig; 6 s a sir'ii-ilar view of the front latch-lever;

Fig. 7 is a broken- View partly in side elevation and tiartly incentral-longitudinal section of a box-magazine shown in conjunction with another form of multiple latch-mechanism embodying the present invention, and with the. said latchqnechanism shown as engaged with the box-magazine to retain the same; and

Fig. 8 is; a; view similar to Fig. 7' but showing the latch-mechanism disengaged from the boxmagazi'ne preparatory to the removal of the latter.

The structi fe o'f Figs. 1 to 6 inclusiiqe- The self-reading firearm illiistrated in theacoompanying drawings, is of the well known Garand type as to its main features, thougl i'recons'tructed to accommodate the latch-niecha nism or the present invention. The said selfloading firearm includes a receiver w and a barrell H projecting rigidly forwardly from the front-end or the said ree'eiven I Extending longitudinally" beneath the forwardportion of the: barrel M' is a cylinder i! into the forward-endv or which is threaded a cylinderhead 13. Immediately to the rear of the rearface of the cylinder-head [3 just referred to, the upper-Wall of the cylinder IZ is formedwith a gas-port l4 which communicates at its upperend with a gas-port l5 formed in the und'er portionof the barrel H and leading from the bore of the latter.

Mounted for reciprocation in the cylinder !2 is apis'to'n-l ead 15 to which is rigidly secured the forward-end of a tubular piston-extension ll, as is shown in Fig. la. From the rear-portion of the said nis'to'n-extension rigidly projects an operating rod I8 serving in a manner well known in the art and exemplified in the Well-known 'G'arand rifle; to effect the actuation of the breech-bolt and associated mechanism when the piston-head I6 is driven rearwardly by gases developed by the discharge of the firearm.

Fitting within the tubular piston-extension I! i is a helical return-spring l9 thrusting at its forward-end against the rear-face of the pistonhead I6 and thrusting at its rear-end against a forwardly-facing spring-seat 20 formed adjacent the forward-end of a thrust-rod 2|. The realend of the saidthrust-rod 2| is displaced down- Wardly and straddles the intermediate-portion of a front latch-lever generally designated by the reference character 22. The said thrust-rod is formed at its .said rear-end with a rearwardlyopening notch 23 receiving a thrust-pin 24 mounted in and extending transversely with respect to the aforesaid front latch-lever 22.

The front latch-lever 22 is formed at its lower-v end with a finger-piece 25 and is formed substantially midway of its length with a latch-nose 26, the upper-face of which provides an upwardly-facing latching-abutment for purposes as will hereinafter appear. The upper-end of the front latch-lever 22 is transversely pierced adjacent its rear-edge, to receive and pivot upon a latch-pin 2'! extending transversely in the re--- ceiver l and supported at its respective opposite ends therein.

The upper-end of the front latch-lever 22 ex tends into a rearwardly-opening notch 28 formed in the intermediate-portion of a latch-lever head-member generally designated by the reference character 29. The latch-pin 21 before referred to also extends through the adjacent portion of the said head-member and serves, in conjunction with a transverse coupling-pin 30 (Fig. 4), to render the said head-member 29 a rigid part of the said front latch-lever 22. a

The latch-lever head-member 29 above referred to is also formed with a forwardly-extending bifurcated guide-arm 3| which receives, with freedom for relative movement, a portion of the thrust-rod 2|. The said latch-lever h'ead -Inember 29 is also formed with a rearwardly-and-upwardly-projecting side-latch-actuating arm 32.

The under-face of the arm 32 of the head-mem-- ber 29 normally rests upon the upper-surface of an actuating-arm- 33 projecting substantially radially inwardly from the front-end of a side latch-lever generally designated by the reference character 34, and shown particularly clearly in in the said recess for pivotal movement about an axis extending longitudinally of the firearmstructure, upon a side-latch pivot-pin 35. As is shown especially well in Fig. 1b, the pivot-pin 35 is supported at its respective opposite ends in the portions of the receiver l0 respectivelyadjacent a the front and rear walls of the recess in which the side latch-lever34 is accommodated.

At its rear-end, the side latch-lever 34 is formed with a finger-piece 36 extending gener-' ally upwardly therefrom, and with a rear latchnose 3! extending generally downwardly and in wardly. The upper surface of the said latchnose constitutes an upwardly-facing latchingabutment, for purposes as will hereinafter appear. The inner-face of the finger-piece 36 of the latch-lever 34 is formed with a springocket 38 receiving the outer end of a helical latchspring 39, as is shown in Fig. 3. The said latchspring 39 thrusts against the adjacent portion of the left-wall of the receiver) and exerts a constant-but-yielding effort to swing the'latchnose 3'! of the latch-lever 34 inwardl Immediately to the rear of its'forward-end from which the barrel I projects and to 'the rear of the front latch-lever 22, the receiver" I0 is formed with a vertical magazine-receiving passage 40 into which upwardly-projects a box-magazine 4| which may be of any approved form common in the art, and normally extended well below the under-edge of the said receiver. The said box-magazine, as is usual in the art, may be demounted from the receiver ID by drawing the same downwardly and may be installed in the said receiver by the insertion of its upper-end surface of the said latch-nose 26 to provide for the releasable; retention of the box-magazine 4|. In its left side-Wall adjacent its rear-edge, the box-magazine 4| is formed with a clearancenotch '44 (Fig.3) the upper-wall of which constitutes a downwardly-facing latching-abutment 45. The said clearance-notch is adapted, as is shown especially well in Fig. 3, to accommodate the rear latch-nose 31 of the side latch-lever 34, while the downwardly-facing latching-abutment 45 is adapted to engage with the said latch-nose 31 to releasably retain the box-magazine in place in the receiver ID in conjunction with the beforedescribed front latch-lever 22, 1

The rear latch-nose 31 forming a feature of the side latch-lever 34, is normally'held in aposition beneath the downwardly-facing latching-abutment 45 at the rear of the box-magazine 4|, by means of the helical latch-spring 39. The front latch-lever 22 is normally urged to turn in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 1b) to thus interpose its latch-nose 26 in the path of the latching-abutment 43, by-th'e tension of thereturn-spring l9 acting through the thrustrod2l.

When it is desired to release the box-magazine 4| and remove the same from the receiver'llL'the user may thrust or pull forwardly upon the finger-piece 25 of the front latch-lever 22, to thus cause the latter to rock in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1b) about the latch-pin 21. This turning movement of the front latch-lever 22 will move its latch-nose 26 forwardly out of the path of the latching-abutment 43 of the box-magazine 4|. As the said front latch-lever 22 is turned in a clockwise direction, the side-latch-actuating arm 32 of the head-member 29 will be swung downwardly. The downward swinging movement of the arm 32 will force the actuating-arm 33 of the side latch-lever 34 downwardly, with the result that the latch-nose 31 will be swung outwardly out of the path of the latching-abutment 45 adjacent the rear of the box-magazine 4|. Thus, both of the latch-noses 26 and 31 will be retired and the box-magazine 4| may be withdrawn downwardly from the magazine-receiving-passage 40 in the receiver I0.

The-finger-piece 25 of the front latch-lever 22 is so positioned that when the user of the firearm grasps the box-magazine 4| to effect the downward removal thereof, the said user will have his forefinger (indicated by the broken lines 46 in Fig. 15) so positioned that by thrusting the forefinger forwardly, the said front latch-lever 22 may be swung to retire the respective latch-noses 26 and 31.

When the reloaded box-magazine 4| oraduplicate thereof, is moved upwardly into the empty magazine-receiving passage 40"inthe receiver It), the upper-portion of such box-magazine will cam the respective latch-noses 26 and 31'ou'twardly until such time as the latching-abutments 43 and 45 are moved slightly above the said latch-noses respectively. Upon this latter occurrence, the return-spring 9 and the latch-spring 39 w'ill assert thrust-rod 2 l.

themselves and respectively restore the latch- -noses 26 and 31 into the positions in which they are shown in Figs. lb, 3 and 4 of the drawings.

The structure of Figs. 7 and 8 wardly-projecting guide-arm 48, corresponding to of a rear latch-member generally designated by the reference character 52.

In its rear-end, the latch-member 52 is formed with a rearwardly-opening axial recess 53, in a forward portion of which is mounted a helical latch-spring 54. This said latch-spring is seated at itsforward-end against the front end-wall of the recess 53, and thrusts at its rear-end against the forward-end of a pivot-pin 55.- The forwardend of the pivot-pin slidably fits within the axial recess 53 and has its rear-end seated'in an adjacent portion of the receiver [0. As thus constructed and arranged, the latch-spring 54 exerts a constant-but-yielding effort to hold the rear latch-member 52 in its forward position.

At its rear-end, the rear latch-member 52 is formed with a downwardly-and-laterally-extending latch-nose 56, which is adapted to move into and out of a clearance-notch 51 formed in the rear wall of a box-magazine generally designated by the reference character 58. The upper-wall of the clearance-notch 51 just referred to, constitutes a downwardly-facing latching-abutment 59 adapted to rest upon the upper-face of the latchnose 56 when the parts are in the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 7.

' The box-magazine 58, above referred to, is also formed in its forward-wall with a clearance-notch 60 corresponding to the clearance-notch 42 of the box-magazine 4| before described, and having a.

downwardly-facing latching-abutment 6| which is adapted to engage with the upper-face of the latch-nose 26 of the front latch-lever 22.

The front latch-lever 22 is urged to turn in a direction such that its latch-nose 26 will be yieldingly held in the clearance-notch 60 in the boxmagazine 58 by the force applied through the As before noted, the latch-spring 54 within the rear latch-member 52, serves to hold the latch-nose 56 in the clearance-notch 51 'in the box-magazine 58, all as illustrated in Fig. '7 of the-drawings.

When it is desired to release the box-magazine 58' for removal, the front latch-lever 22 may be swung from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 7 into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 8, to thereby withdraw its latch-nose 26 from the path of movement of the latching-abutment 6| in the front-wall of the box-magazine 58."

The above described swinging movement of the front latch-lever 22 will cause the actuating-arm 49 of its head-member 41 to force the combined pivot-and-thrust pin 50 rearwardly, to thereby similarly move the rear'latch-member 52 against the tension of the latch-spring 54. The described rearward movement of the rear latch-member 52 will retire the latch-nose 56 thereof out of the path of movement of the rear latching-abutment 59 of the box-magazine 58, so that the said boxmagazine may be drawn downwardly.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

l. The combination with a repeating firearmstructure having a magazine-receiving passage therein; of a box-magazine insertable into and removable from the magazine-receiving passage in the firearm-structure and provided with two spaced-apart downwardly-facing latching-abutments; a first latch-member carried by the fire arm-structure and having an upwardly-facing latching-abutment movable into and out of position to engage with one of the two latching-abutincntsof the said boxmagazine; a second latchmember also carried by the firearm-structure and having an upwardly-facing latching-abutment movable into and out of position to engage with other of the two said latching-'abutments of the said box-magazine; spring-means urging the respective latching-abutments of each of the said latch-members into position to engage with one of the two latching-abutments of the said box-magazine: and 'connecting-means between the two said latch-members and constructed and arranged to effect the retirement of one thereof when'i-he other is manually "retired against the tension of the said spring-means.

2. The combination with a repeating firearmstructure having a'magazine-receiving passage therein; of a box magazine insertable into and removable from the magazine-receiving passage in the firearm-structure and provided with twospaced-apart downwardly-facing latching-abutments; a first latch-member carried by the firearm-structure and having an upwardly-facing latching-abutment movable into and out of position to engage with one of the two latchingabutments of the said box-magazine; a second latch-member also carried by the firearm-structure and having an upwardly-facing latchinga'butrnent movable into and out of position to engage with the other of the two said latchingabutments of the said box-magazine; first springmeans urging the said first latch-member into position to engage its latching-abutment with the adjacent one of the latching-abutments of the said box-magazine; second'spring-means independentof the said first spring-means and in dependently urging the said second latch-member into position to engage its latching-abutment with the adjacent one of the 1atChing-ab11tments of the said box-magazine; and connectingmeans between the two said latch-members and constructed and arranged to effect the retirement of one thereof against the tension of its independent spring-means when one of the said latchrnembers ismanually' retired against the tension of its spring-means.

The combination with a repeating firearmstructure having a magazine-receiving passage; of a box-magazine insertable into and removable from the magazine-receiving passage inthe firearm-structure and provided adjacent its front with a downwardly-facing front latching-abutment and also provided adjacent its rear with a downwardly-facing rear latching-abutment; a front latch-member carried by the firearm-structure and having an upwardly-facing latchingabutment movable into and out ofposition to engage with the front latching-abutment of the said box-magazine; a rear latch-member also carried by the firearm-structure and having an upwardly-facing latching-abutment movable into and out of position to engage with the rear latching-abutment of the said box-magazine; spring-means urging the respective latchingabutments of both the front latch-member and the rear latch-member respectively into position to engage with the front latching-abutment and the rear latching-abutment of the said boxmagazine; and connecting-means between the said front and rear latch-members and constructed and arranged to effect the retirement of one thereof when the other is manually retired against the tension of the said spring-means.

4. The combination with a repeating firearmstructure having a magazine-receiving passage;

of a box-magazine insertable into and removable.

from the magazine-receiving passage in the firearm-structure and provided adjacent its front with a downwardly-facing front latching-abutment and also provided adjacent its rear with a downwardly-facing rear latching-abutment; a

front latch -inember carried by the firearm-structure and having an upwardly-facing latchingabutment movable into and out of position to engage with the front latching-abutment of the said i box-magazine; a rear latch-member also carried by the firearm-structure and having an upwardly-facing latching-abutment movable into and out of position to engage with the rear latching-abutment of the said box-magazine; first spring-means urging the said front latch-memher into position to engage its latching-abutment with the front latching-abutment of the said boxmagazine; second spring-means independent of the said first spring-means and independently urging the said rear latch-member into position to engage its latching-abutment with the rear latching-abutment of the said box-magazine; and connecting-means between the said front and rear latch-members and constructed and arranged to effect the retirement of one thereof against the tension of its independent springmeans when the other of the said latch-members is manually retired against the tension of its wring-means.

5. The combination with a repeating firearmstructure having a magazine-receiving passage; of a box-magazine insertable into and removable from the magazine-receiving passage in the firearm-structure and provided adjacent its front with a downwardly-facing front latching-abutment and also provided adjacent its rear with a downwardly-facing rear latching-abutment; a front latch-lever pivoted to the firearm-structure and having an upwardly-facing latchingabutment swingable into and out of position to engage with the front latching-abutment of the said box-magazine; a rear latch-lever also pivoted to the firearm-structure and having an upwardly-facing latching-abutment swingable into and out of position to engage with the rear latching-abutmentof the said box-magazine; spring means urging the respective latching-abutments of both the front latch lever and the rear latchlever respectively into position to engage with the front latching-abutment and the rear latching-abutment of thesaid box-magazine; and connecting-meansfbetween the said front and rear latch-levers and constructed and arranged to effect the retirement of one thereof when the other is manually retired against the tension of the said spring-means. r I 6. The combination with a repeating'firearmstructure having a'magazine-receiving passage; of a box-magazine insertable into and removable from the magazine-receiving passage inthe firearm-structure and provided adjacent its front with a downwardly-facing front latching-abutment and also provided adjacent its rear with a downwardly-facing rear latching-abutment; a front latch-lever pivotedto the firearm-structure and having an upwardly-facing latching-abut ment swingable into and out of position to engage'with the front latching abutment of the said box-magazine; arear latch-lever also pivoted to the firearm-structure and having an upwardly-facing latching-abutment swingable into and out of position to engage with the rear latching-abutment of the said box-magazine; first spring-means urging the said front latch-lever into position to engage its latching-abutment with the front latching-abutment of the said box-magazine; second spring-means independent of the said first spring-means and independentl -urging the said rear latch-lever into position to engage its latching-abutment with the rear latching-abutment of the said box-magazine; and connecting-means between the said front and rear latch-levers and constructed and arranged to effect the retirement of one thereof against the tension of its independent springmeans when the other of the said latch-members is manually retired against the tension of its spring-means.

7. The'combination with a repeating firearmstructure having a magazine-receiving passage; of a box-magazine insertable into and'removable from the magazine-receiving passage in the firearm-structure and provided adjacent its front with a downwardly-facing front latching-abutment and also provided adjacent its rear with a downwardly-facing rear latching-abutment; a

front latch-lever pivoted to the firearm-structure for turning movement about an" axis substantially transverse of the firearm-structure, the said front latch-lever having an upwardly-facing latching-abutment swingable into and out of position toengage with the front latching-abutment ofthe'said box-magazine; a rear latchlever pivoted to the firearm-structure for swinging movement about an axis extending substantially longitudinally of the firearm-structure, the

"urging the respective latching-abutments of both the front latch-lever and rear latch-lever respectively into position to engage with the front latching-abutment and the rear latching-abutment of the said boxmagazine; andconneotingmeans between the said front and rear latchlevers and constructed and arranged to effect the retirement of one thereof When 'the other is manually retiredagainst' the tension of the said spring-means.

8. The combination with a repeating firearmstructure having a magazine-receiving passage; of a box-magazine insertable into and removable from the magazine-receiving passage in the firearm-structure and provided adjacent its front with a downwardly-facing front latching-abutment and also provided adjacent its rear with a downwardly-facing rear latching-abutment; a front latch-lever pivoted to the firearm-structure for turning movement about an axis substantially transverse of the firearm-structure, the said front latch-lever having an upwardly-facing latching-abutment swingable into and out of position to engage with the front latching-abutment of the said box-magazine; a rear latch-lever pivoted to the firearm-structure for swinging movement about an axis extending substantially longitudinally of the'firearm-structure, the said rear latch-lever having an upwardly-facing latching-abutment swingable into and out of position to engage with the rear latching-abutment of the said box-magazine; first springmeans urging the said front latch-lever to turn into position to engage its latching-abutment with the front latching-abutment of the said boxmagazine; second spring-means independent of the said first spring-means and independently urging the said rear latch-lever to turn into position to engage its latching-abutment with the rear latching-abutment of the said box-magazine; and connecting means between the said front and rear latch-levers and constructed and arranged to effect the retirement of one thereof against the tension of its independent spring-means when the other of the said latchmembers is manually retired against the tension of its spring-means.

9. The combination with a repeating firearmstructure having a magazine-receiving passage therein, a as-operated piston propelled rearwardly by gas pressure resulting from the discharge of the firearm-structure, a thrust-rod extending substantially longitudinally of the firearm-structure and having its forward end spaced rearwardly from the rear of the said piston, and a return-spring interposed between the said piston and the said thrust-rod and constructed and arranged to urge the said piston forwardly and to urge the said thrust-rod rearwardly; Of a latch-member mounted adjacent the magazinereceiving passage in the firearm-structure and having an upwardly-facin latching-abutment adapted to engage with a box-magazine to retain the same in place; and means connecting the rear-portion of the thrust-rod of the firearmstructure with the said latch-member and constructed and arranged to cause the aforesaid return-spring to urge the latching-abutment of the said latch-member into engagement with a boxmagazine.

10. The combination with a repeating firearmstructure having a magazine-receiving passage therein, a gas-operated piston propelled rearwardly by gas pressure resulting from the discharge of the firearm-structure, a thrust-rod extending substantially longitudinally of the firearm-structure and having its forward end spaced rearwardly from the rear of the said piston, and a return-spring interposed between the said piston and the said thrust-rod and constructed and arranged to urge the said piston forwardly and to urge the said thrust-rod rearwardly; of a latch-lever pivoted to the firearm-structure adjacent the magazine-receiving passage therein and mounted for swinging movement about an axis extending substantially transversely of the firearm-structure, the said latch-lever having an upwardly-facing latching-abutment adapted to engage with a' box-magazine to retain the same in place; and means connecting the rear-portion of the thrust-rod of the firearm-structure with the said latch-lever and constructed and arranged to cause the aforesaid return-spring to ur e the latching-abutment of the said latchlever to swing into engagement with a box-magazine.

11. The combination with a repeating firearmstructure having a magazine-receiving passage; of a box-magazine insertable into and removable from the magazine-receiving passage'in the firearm-structure and provided adjacent its front with a downwardly-facing front latching-abutment and also provided adjacent its rear with a downwardly-facing rear latching-abutment; a front latch-lever pivoted to the firearm-structure for turning movement about an axis substantially transverse of the firearm-structure, the said front latch-lever having an upwardly-facing latching-abutment swingable into and out of position to engage with the front latching-abutment of the said box-magazine; a rear latchmember carried by the firearm-structure and constructed and arranged to mOVe longitudinally thereof, the said rear latch-member havin an upwardly-facing latching-abutment movable into and out of position to engage with the rear latching-abutment of the said box-magazine; spring-means urging the respective latchingabutment of both the front latch-lever and the HARRY SEFRIED, II. 

